William Langland seems to have kept re-writing the same
alliterative poem again and again, so we have an "A text"
(from before 1376), a "B text" (from 1378), and a "C text"
(from about 1387). It is considered a "monumental work of
social consciousness of the 14th century, earnest in its
satire, realistic in its humor" (Garbáty 676).

The control Langland has over the poem is questionable,
the narrator going in and out of dream visions but also
going into a dream within a dream and ultimately not coming
out enough levels. But the poem does have one of the best
depictions of the procession of the Seven Deadly Sins.